linear stepper motor 3d printer

Description

I wonder, why isn't everyone using linear stepper motors for 3d printers? At least, no 3d printer I've seen so far... Maybe they are simply too expensive?..

The plan: make a DIY linear stepper. Attach it to my printer. Try.

If you are wondering, what a linear stepper is - it's just like regular stepper, unrolled.
Example: http://www.intellidrives.com/App-How-Linear-Stepper-Works

Project Logs

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ferromagnetic filament is a FAIL
DeepSOIC • 04/16/2016 at 23:58 • 1 comment

I did a crude measurement of BlackMagic3D's ferromagnetic filament, and got permeability of about 2. That is hopeless. For more info, see my project #Measuring BlackMagic3D's ferromagnetic filament.
ordered ferromagnetic PLA
DeepSOIC • 03/26/2016 at 15:11 • 0 comments

http://www.blackmagic3d.com/Magnetic-PLA-Filament-p/bm3d-175-mag.htm
I'm very excited about this material. Can make motors, magnets for speakers, maybe even transformers..
Why!! Why they don't make ABS like this? PLA is perfect for printing, but it can only withstand +20-+30 deg.C temperature rise (with respect to ambient +20..+30). That's nothing! ABS is +60..+70 deg.C rise, more than double! Nylon... well... so on...
UPDATE:
As soon as I get the filament, I will measure its magnetic properties. The plan is to obtain the following parameters:
* hysteresis curve
* saturation inductance
* permeability
* dissipation factor
The last three parameters can be calculated from the hysteresis curve, so once I get the curve - I get everything.
Measuring this involves printing a toroid core, winding some wire onto it, connecting it to powerful square wave generator, and measuring current and voltage waveforms. Then, knowing DC resistance of coil, magnetic flux waveform can be obtained. Then, using geometrical parameters of the core, I can construct B-H curve.
Some ~5 years ago, I did this to some cores, because that was the only way (no marking on the core, or no data).
This deserves a separate hackaday project page.
UPDATE2.
Shit happens. There was some strange confusion with shipping. The plastic arrived to St. Petersburg, and was returned back with claims from DHL they don't carry stuff to private individuals. Now, I tried getting in touch with blackmagic3d, no success so far =(((
Stupid delays! They ruin all the excitement about the project =(
UPDATE3.
Shipping again. Fingers crossed....
UPDATE4.
Filament is in my hands! Cool!
vitamins being considered
DeepSOIC • 03/26/2016 at 12:31 • 0 comments

I really don't want to have to use custom CNC machining to make the motor, so I'm searching for what I can use for making the motor.
rack with no pinion
Benefits:
+ precision
+ flat-topped teeth. like in steppers.
Drawbacks:
- wrong material
- eddy currents
- no idea, where to get one
Threaded rod and nuts
Benefits:
+ precision
+ easy to obtain, cheap
Drawbacks:
- wrong material
- eddy currents
- spiky ridges. Can be smoothed out, but it's not easy to do precisely.
Saws
Benefits:
+ easy to obtain, cheap
+ thin, so can be stacked to get rid of eddy currents
Drawbacks:
- wrong material
- spiky ridges. Can be smoothed out, easier than with threaded rods.
- not made to be precise, generally.
Ferromagnetic 3d-print (PLA with iron)
(thanks to @Lupus Mechanicus for steering me to this!)
example: http://www.amazon.com/Ferromagnetic-grams-3D-Printing-Filament/dp/B019J1E7GI
benefits: AWESOME!
+ precision
+ flexibility. Motor can be tailored to fit the printer.
+ no eddy currents
drawbacks:
- bad temperature stability, might require active cooling
linear steppers are rare
DeepSOIC • 03/25/2016 at 17:15 • 3 comments

Quick browse through ebay and aliexpress didn't return any easily obtainable linear stepper motor. So building my own sounds like a good idea.

View all 4 project logs

Discussions

Florian Festi wrote 07/17/2016 at 18:47

If you want to give rack gears a try have a look at http://www.aliexpress.com/category/100004800/rack-gears.html Have a close eye on shipping costs (and time), though. You should be able to get a rack for 20 to 30$.

Are you sure? yes | no

DeepSOIC wrote 07/17/2016 at 19:22

Thanks, I think I will order a few. Even if I don't use them for the motor, they might come in handy for something else.

Are you sure? yes | no

dentikhval wrote 03/26/2016 at 17:24

I'm seriously concerned about the magnetic features of the plastic you are planning to use... May be a wild guess but as it has only 20% or so of iron, it should have 20% or less of its magnetic capabilities. Second, think about the heat the usual steppers produce during movement. You will likely have a bad time dispassing it all from the coils (keep in mind that their inner part will be significantly hotter than the outer part you are planning to apply active cooling to). And, if you apply lesd current not to overheat, you will lose torque! Also, how are you planning to drive this? It might require something different from a usual stepper driver. And finally: Printbox3D One is a super cool machine when configured properly. Why salvage it?

Are you sure? yes | no

DeepSOIC wrote 03/26/2016 at 17:36

"May be a wild guess but as it has only 20% or so of iron, it should have 20% or less of its magnetic capabilities." maybe. But I still want this material. I'm quite sure it's not as good as bulk iron, but may still be very good.

"You will likely have a bad time dispassing it all from the coils (keep in mind that their inner part will be significantly hotter than the outer part you are planning to apply active cooling to)." Oh yes.

"It might require something different from a usual stepper driver" why? It's the same stuff, only laid out in a line, rather than a circle in a regular stepper.

"And finally: Printbox3D One is a super cool machine when configured properly. Why salvage it?" Because it's the only printer that I have. And if it doesn't work, I just put back together the original drive, and continue printing. Buying a new printer for this is too much money to waste, and building one from scratch is a waste of time.

Are you sure? yes | no

MECHANICUS wrote 03/26/2016 at 14:32

Just went for a run, the thoughts flowed. I would print a positive. Make a silicone mold and then fill the mold with high temp epoxy and powdered magnetite Fe3O4. Then you can make production runs.

Are you sure? yes | no

MECHANICUS wrote 03/26/2016 at 01:30

Awesome idea, the tracks could easily be printed. Keep em coming!

Are you sure? yes | no

DeepSOIC wrote 03/26/2016 at 12:09

Hmm, you gave me another idea. Find a filament that has ferrous metal suspension mixed into it, like BronzeFill.

Are you sure? yes | no

MECHANICUS wrote 03/26/2016 at 13:55

I think tribo filament or maybe nylon would be the best for this to reduce friction and wear. But I don't know maybe you want more friction im not a mechanical engineer. Although not sure what application you are thinking of.

I have run a glow in the dark gear on straight PLA and it polished the pristine PLA. Could be used to wear in the gearing.

EDIT: God dang I just read the page at the top, I understand what you are doing now. disregard the hillarious comment.

Also in my experience PLA's temperature instability is overrated, If this has alot of iron it should be thermally conductive to the point the heat will dissapate.

Are you sure? yes | no

linear stepper motor 3d printer

Description

Project Logs

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ferromagnetic filament is a FAIL

ordered ferromagnetic PLA

vitamins being considered

rack with no pinion

Threaded rod and nuts

Saws

Ferromagnetic 3d-print (PLA with iron)

linear steppers are rare

Discussions

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linear stepper motor 3d printer

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rack with no pinion

Threaded rod and nuts

Saws

Ferromagnetic 3d-print (PLA with iron)

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